About the NFL GM Game
Think you could build a roster capable of beating the greatest regular-season team in NFL history? The 16–0 Game puts you in the general manager's chair and gives you a $175 million salary cap to make it happen.
Your target is the 2007 New England Patriots, who went undefeated through the regular season. Your job is to assemble an eight-man core, hire a coach and survive a full 17-game season before facing them in the ultimate matchup.
The catch? You can't simply buy every superstar you want. Every signing comes with a price.
How does the NFL GM Game work?
Each round starts with a spin that lands on a random franchise and era. From that result, you get an opportunity to sign a player at today's salary-cap price.
You have eight roster selections covering quarterback, running back, two wide receivers, tight end, offensive line, front seven and secondary. Each choice affects how much money remains for the positions still waiting to be filled.
That makes every spin a negotiation between talent and value.
How does the $175M salary cap work?
Your entire roster has to fit under a $175 million budget. A superstar quarterback can consume a huge chunk of that money, while cheaper players may give you more flexibility to strengthen the rest of the team.
Spend too aggressively at the beginning and you could reach the final selection with barely enough money to fill a major hole.
The best GM isn't necessarily the one who signs the biggest names. It's the one who gets the most production from every dollar.
Which positions do I need to fill?
Your eight-man core consists of a quarterback, running back, two wide receivers, tight end, offensive line, front seven and secondary.
You can also hire a coach after completing the roster. The coach doesn't count against your salary cap, but their rating can still influence the outcome of the simulation.
Players can be used outside their natural position, but their rating takes a hit when they're playing somewhere unfamiliar.
What happens after I build my roster?
Once your roster and coach are set, your team plays through a simulated 17-game NFL season.
The season gives your lineup a chance to prove that the roster works as a whole. A collection of expensive stars isn't automatically a championship-caliber team, and weaknesses at one position can become costly over the course of the schedule.
If you survive the season, there's one final test.
Can I beat the 2007 Patriots?
That's the entire point.
The 2007 Patriots finished their regular season 16–0, making them the ultimate opponent for your custom roster. After building your team and completing the season simulation, you'll face them to see whether your front-office decisions were good enough.
There is no guaranteed formula. You might spend big on a quarterback and build around him, or spread the money across a deeper roster. You could prioritize offense, load up the defense or try to create the most balanced team possible.
The challenge is finding the combination that works.
Manage the cap. Trust your instincts. Survive 17 games. Then try to knock off 16–0.
More NFL Games
Keep testing your football knowledge with more NFL games on 84-0:
Full rules, records and strategy live in the GM Mode game guide.
THE VILLAINS · 2007 PATRIOTS